Former Lionsgate Exec Erik Feig Launches Picturestart

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Veteran producer and media executive Erik Feig has launched Picturestart, focused on creating, co-financing and producing content for all platforms, with backing from Warner Bros. and Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), among others.

“Discovery of Voice” is a central theme in Picturestart’s content and storytelling, with a mission of establishing identity and telling diverse stories with diverse creatives in film, TV and digital productions.

Investors include Warner Bros. Pictures, the significant equity investment of which is also accompanied by a first-look arrangement for co-developing, co-financing and distribution of feature films with Picturestart. NENT Group will receive first-look Nordic rights to select Picturestart television productions as part of its equity investment, which also creates co-financing and development opportunities and expands NENT Group’s presence in the U.S. market. Scholastic will provide Picturestart access to its IP for development into other forms of media. Endeavor Content will serve as co-financier and strategic advisor on select Picturestart projects. BRON Ventures, the equity investment division of BRON Media Corp., was created to form strategic partnerships with content-driven production companies. BRON will serve as a co-producer/co-financier on select projects. Investment was also provided to Picturestart from a range of media investors from gaming, music, technology and finance industries as well as from Feig himself.

Feig previously served as president of the motion picture group at Lionsgate. He has produced and overseen global blockbuster films such as The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games franchises, as well as projects including the Divergent series, Wonder, Warm Bodies, Perks of Being a Wallflower and Nerve, along with other film credits such as the Red and Now You See Me franchises, A Simple Favor, The Impossible, Sicario, Sinister and 50/50.

Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Picture Group, said: “Erik is a super-talented and accomplished producer, executive and entrepreneur with an impressive ability to successfully navigate our evolving business. He has great taste, great instincts and great filmmaker relationships. Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line are very proud and enthused to be both his financial and creative partner and look forward to many years of success together.”

Anders Jensen, NENT Group’s president and CEO, stated: “As the Nordic region’s leading entertainment provider, we understand the passion of young adult viewers for exceptional storytelling. Picturestart is a unique opportunity to build a content frontrunner that engages this fast-growing audience across multiple platforms with a global appeal.”

“Erik Feig’s mission to launch Picturestart as a platform to discover and celebrate diverse voices perfectly aligns with our commitment at Scholastic to ensure every young person can see themselves portrayed in accessible, authentic stories,” said Iole Lucchese, Scholastic’s chief strategy officer. “Erik’s vision, talent and incredible team will enable us to bring Scholastic content to new audiences in innovative ways. We could not be more excited about what we can accomplish through this powerful partnership.”

“Great storytelling that digs into who we are, who we want to become, who we love, and why we live is relatable to everyone no matter your stage or age in life,” commented Feig. “Creating a company that focuses on working with groundbreaking and innovative artists to tell transformative stories is something I am passionate about on a creative and business level and I am thrilled to be able to now focus on this robust category with both more precision and more scale and with the best-in-class of financing, distribution, and marketing options. I am incredibly proud of Picturestart’s partnership and executive team and honored to have their support for this venture, as we look forward to creating the definitive home for great content that inspires and transforms us for this generation and generations to come.”